Although the attorneys at the Dominy Law Firm are licensed to practice law throughout the state of Ohio, they limit the practice of OVI / DUI defense to the courts of central Ohio. Those courts are located in Franklin County, Delaware County, and most of the counties contiguous to Franklin County and Delaware County. The specific communities in which the Dominy Law Firm represents clients for DUI / OVI are listed at the bottom of this page. Whether you live in one of those communities or just have to go to court there, the Dominy Law Firm can help.
The courts in central Ohio have similarities and differences. Ohio OVI law is the same in each court, and the case process is essentially the same in each court. The judicial system in each court, however, has differences in operation and case outcomes. The difference is primarily explained by the fact that the systems are comprised of people, and people have varying philosophies, perspectives, and procedures. Prosecutors are vested with discretion and have varying philosophies regarding dismissing/reducing DUI / OVI charges and making sentencing recommendations. Judges are given wide latitude in what sentences to impose, and different judges have different sentencing philosophies.
If a person is convicted of OVI in Ohio, there are mandatory minimum penalties, and there are maximum penalties. Those penalties increase if a person is convicted of multiple OVI offenses within certain “lookback periods” (six years and twenty years). For a first-offense OVI, the minimum sentence includes at least three days in jail, a license suspension of at least six months, and a fine of at least $375. The maximum sentence includes up to 180 days in jail, a license suspension up to three years, and a fine of up to $1,075. For subsequent OVI convictions, the penalties increase substantially. A summary of OVI penalties may be found on the DUI / OVI Sentences page.
You do not have to plead guilty and accept the consequences, which include an OVI conviction on your permanent record which cannot be expunged. In many cases, pleading not guilty and contesting the OVI charge leads to a more favorable outcome. At your first court appearance, you will be asked to enter a plea of guilty, no contest, or not guilty.Before you decide which plea to enter, it is helpful to learn as much as possible about DUI / OVI issues. You’ll want to know more about the evidence in OVI cases, what the prosecutor must prove, the court process, the consequences, and possible defenses. You’ll also want to learn about the differences among DUI / OVI attorneys. Information on those topics can be found in this website and can also be found in the Ohio DUI/OVI Guide That guide is sold in online bookstores, and the e-book version can be downloaded for free here.
After you learn more about DUI / OVI, you may want to speak with an experienced DUI / OVI lawyer. The Dominy Law Firm has expertise and experience in DUI/OVI defense. For more information about us, please see the attorney profiles. You may also want to review our client reviews and case results. If you conclude your research and would like to schedule a free phone consultation with us, please email the Dominy Law Firm or call 614-717-1177.